US 2013009203 8A1

(19) United States

(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0092038 A1
Kanungo et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 18, 2013

(54) APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL FLEXOGRAPHIC Publication Classi?cation

PRINTING
(51) Int. Cl.
(75) Inventors: Mandakini Kanungo, Webster, NY B41F 9/00 (200601)
(US); Kock-Yee Law, Pen?eld, NY (52) U-s- Cl
(US); George Cunha Cardoso, Webster, USPC ........................................................ .. 101/153
Eggs); Jlng Zhou, Rochester, NY (57) ABSTRACT
A digital ?exography system includes an imaging member
- _ . With a charge generating layer formed from an array of
(73) Asslgnee' Xerox corporatlon’ Norwalk’ CT (Us) addressable pixels and a charge transport layer thereon. Ink is
delivered to the imaging member using a simple rough donor
(21) App1.No.: 13/274,659 roll, rather than an anilox roll. Instead of controlling the
amount of ink delivered using the anilox roll, the amount of
(22) Filed: Oct. 17, 2011 ink is controlled by the pixels on the imaging member.

100
Patent Application Publication Apr. 18, 2013 Sheet 1 0f 7 US 2013/0092038 A1

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US 2013/0092038 A1
APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL FLEXOGRAPHIC
PRINTING
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to US. patent application
Ser. No. 12/539,397, ?led Aug. 11, 2009; US. patent appli
cation Ser. No. 12/539,557, ?led Aug. 11, 2009; and US.
patent application Ser. No. 869,605, ?ledAug. 26, 2010. The
disclosures of these three applications are hereby fully incor
porated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventional ?exography is a printing process
Which uses a ?exible relief plate instead of a rigid relief plate.
Flexography is commonly used in the packaging industry and
in label printing because of excellent print quality, larger
substrate latitude, ef?ciency, large color gamut, and loW ink
costs. Flexography has a high engine unit manufacturing cost
(UMC) and a relatively loW run cost. HoWever, run costs
increase for short runs (less than ~2000 prints) or With vari
able data due to the need to make a neW image plate for each
run.
[0003] For short runs, ?exography competes With tWo other
commonly used digital printing platforms, xerography and
solid inkj et printing. Xerographic printing involves multiple
steps including charging of the photoreceptor and forming a
latent image on the photoreceptor; transferring and fusing the
developed image onto a substrate medium (such as paper);
and erasing and cleaning the photoreceptor. Although xero
graphic printing is a mature technology, the engine UMC is
still high, as is the run cost.
[0004] Solid inkjet printing (S11) is another printing tech
nology Which is noW serving the of?ce color market and is
Working toWards the production color market. SI] uses solid
ink sticks instead of the ?uid ink or toner poWder usually used
in xerography printers. The ink stick is melted and is used to
jet the image on a substrate, similar to conventional inkjet
printing. Challenges to mastering SI] include high unit UMC
and high run cost.
[0005] It Would be desirable to develop digital ?exographic
printing systems and methods Which reduce engine UMC and
run cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0006] The present application discloses, in various
embodiments, digital marking systems. The systems include
a nano-enabled imaging member and a development sub
system.
[0007] Disclosed in some embodiments is a ?exographic
printing system comprising a nano-enabled imaging member
and a development subsystem. The nano-enabled imaging
member comprises an array of hole-injecting pixels and a
charge transport layer disposed over the array of hole-inject
ing pixels. Each pixel is electrically isolated and individually
addressable. The development subsystem includes a rough
ink donor roll and an ink supply.
[0008] The nano-enabled imaging member may further
comprise an array of thin ?lm transistors betWeen a substrate
and the array of hole-inj ecting pixels. Each thin ?lm transistor
is connected to one pixel of the array of hole-injecting pixels.
[0009] Each pixel may comprise a nano-carbon material.
The nano-carbon material may be a single-Wall carbon nano
Apr. 18, 2013
tube, a double-Wall carbon nanotube, a multi-Wall carbon
nanotube, graphene, and mixtures thereof.
[0010] In speci?c embodiments, the nano-carbon material
is a carbon nanotube or graphene.
[0011] Alternatively, each pixel may comprise a conju
gated polymer, such as PEDOTzPSS. Other conjugated poly
mers include poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT),
alkyl substituted ethylenedioxythiophene, phenyl substituted
ethylenedioxythiophene, dimethyl substituted polypropy
lenedioxythiophene, cyanobiphenyl substituted 3,4-ethyl
enedioxythiopene, teradecyl substituted PEDOT, dibenZyl
substituted PEDOT, an ionic group substituted PEDOT, a
dendron substituted PEDOT, and mixtures thereof.
[0012] The charge transport layer may comprise a charge
transport molecule dispersed in a binder polymer. The charge
transport molecule may be a pyraZoline, diamine, arylamine,
hydraZone, oxadiaZole, or stilbene. The binder polymer may
be a polycarbonate, polyarylate, polystyrene, acrylate poly
mer, vinyl polymer, cellulose polymer, polyester, polysilox
ane, polyimide, polyurethane, polycycloole?n, polysulfone,
or epoxy. In speci?c embodiments, the charge transport layer
comprises N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-(1,1'
biphenyl)-4.4'-diamine.
[0013] The rough ink donor roll may have a surface rough
ness of from about 0.1 pm to about 50 pm. A gap betWeen the
nano-enabled imaging member and the rough ink donor roll
may be from about 1 pm to about 50 um Wide.
[0014] Disclosed in some embodiments is a ?exographic
printing system comprising a nano-enabled imaging member
and a development subsystem. The nano-enabled imaging
member comprises a substrate, an array of hole-injecting
pixels, and a charge transport layer disposed over the array of
hole-injecting pixels. Each pixel is electrically isolated and
individually addressable. Each pixel is also formed from a
nano-carbon material or a conjugated polymer. The develop
ment subsystem includes a rough ink donor roll and an ink
supply.
[0015] These and other non-limiting characteristics of the
disclosure are more particularly disclosed beloW.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The patent or application ?le contains at least one
draWing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent
application publication With color draWing(s) Will be pro
vided by the O?ice upon request and payment of the neces
sary fee.
[0017] The folloWing is a brief description of the draWings,
Which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the exem
plary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes
of limiting the same.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional method of ?exo
graphic printing.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a digital
?exographic printing system using a photoconductor.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a digital
?exographic printing system of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional vieW of an exemplary
nano-enabled imaging member of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 5 is the print test result of a patterned PEDOT
bilayer imaging member using xerographic toner.
[0023] FIG. 6 compares the development mass area (DMA)
of direct printing measured With and Without the charging of
the nanoenabled imaging member.
US 2013/0092038 A1
[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of
a printing system used in the Example.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a picture showing the direct printing result
of the printing system of FIG. 7 With charging.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a picture shoWing the direct printing result
When the charger of the printing system of FIG. 7 is partially
covered.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] A more complete understanding of the components,
processes and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained
by reference to the accompanying draWings. These ?gures are
merely schematic representations based on convenience and
the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are,
therefore, not intended to indicate relative siZe and dimen
sions of the devices or components thereof and/or to de?ne or
limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.
[0028] Although speci?c terms are used in the folloWing
description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to
refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments
selected for illustration in the draWings, and are not intended
to de?ne or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the draWings
and the folloWing description beloW, it is to be understood that
like numeric designations refer to components of like func
tion.
[0029] The modi?er “about” used in connection With a
quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning
dictated by the context (for example, it includes at least the
degree of error associated With the measurement of the par
ticular quantity). When used in the context of a range, the
modi?er “about” should also be considered as disclosing the
range de?ned by the absolute values of the tWo endpoints. For
example, the range of “from about 2 to about 10” also dis
closes the range “from 2 to 10.”
[0030] The term “comprising” is used herein as requiring
the presence of the named component and alloWing the pres
ence of other components. The term “comprising” should be
construed to include the term “consisting of”, Which alloWs
the presence of only the named component, along With any
impurities that might result from the manufacture of the
named component.
[0031] The term “on” or “upon” the substrate refers to the
various layers and components With reference to the substrate
as being the bottom or support for all of the layers and com
ponents Which are on top of it. In other Words, all of the layers
or components are on the substrate, even though they do not
all directly contact the substrate. For example, both the charge
generating layer and the charge transport layer are on the
substrate, even though one layer is closer to the substrate than
the other layer.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a conventional ?exographic system 100.
Conventional ?exography is a printing process Which uses a
?exible relief plate instead of rigid relief plate like letterpress.
The ?exible plate contains raised image areas and loWered
non-image areas. Only the raised image areas of the plate
come in contact With the substrate during printing. Flexo
graphic plates are made up of ?exible materials such as plas
tic, rubber or UV sensitive polymer so that the plate can be
attached to a roller or cylinder for ink application. In a typical
?exo printing sequence, the substrate is fed into the press
from a roll (not shoWn). The ?exographic printing system
employs a plate cylinder supporting the ?exible relief plate, a
metering cylinder knoWn as the anilox roll that applies ink to
the plate, and an ink pan Which provides the ink. Some ?exo
Apr. 18, 2013
systems use a third roller knoWn as fountain roller and in
some cases a doctor blade is used for improved ink distribu
tion. Here, the ink pan 130 supplies ink to a fountain roll 133.
The fountain roll supplies ink to the anilox roll 132, Which
meters the amount of ink applied to the plate 114 located upon
plate cylinder 110. An impression cylinder 120 is used to
move the substrate 116 against the plate cylinder 110, Where
the ink is transferred to the substrate. FIG. 1 illustrates ?exo
graphic printing for a single color. For color printing, the
substrate is pulled through a series of similar stations or print
units. Each print unit prints a single color onto the substrate.
[0033] FIG. 2 is another previous approach. This system
200 digitiZes the printing process by using electrostatic print
ing of ?exo inks via electrostatic latent images created on a
photoconductor (e.g. amorphous silicon) using a laser/ROS
and charger. An electrostatic latent image is created upon a
photosensitive imaging member, the latent image is subse
quently developed by the application of ink, and the devel
oped image is transferred to a receiving medium such as
paper. As shoWn here, going counter-clockWise, photocon
ducting imaging member 210 receives a substantially uni
form electrostatic charge on its surface 214 via charging
station 212 (such as a scorotron) to Which a voltage has been
supplied from poWer supply 211. The photoconductor is then
imageWise exposed to light at imaging station 213 from an
optical system or an image input apparatus, such as a laser,
light emitting diode, or other raster output scanner (ROS).
This light exposure forms an electrostatic latent image
thereon by selectively altering the substantially uniform elec
trostatic charge. The electrostatic latent image is then devel
oped at developing station 230 by contacting the electrostatic
latent image With ?exo ink. This Will be folloWed by the
transfer of the ink image onto a receiving medium 216, such
as paper, rheologically or electrostatically, for example by
pressure, heat and/or UV at transfer station 215. Photocon
ducting imaging member 210, after transfer, advances to
cleaning station 217, Wherein any remaining ink is cleaned
therefrom, for example by use of a cleaning blade 222, brush,
or other cleaning apparatus. A ?xing station 220 ?xes the
transferred image to the receiving medium.
[0034] Focusing on the developing station 230, an anilox
roll 232 is used to transfer ink from an ink supply 234 to the
surface 214 of the photoconductor. An anilox roll is a hard
cylinder Whose surface contains millions of very ?ne cells.
The anilox roll is usually constructed of a steel or aluminum
core Which is coated by an industrial ceramic. An anilox roll
is often speci?ed by its line screen, Which is the number of
cells per linear inch. The line screen often ranges from
betWeen about 250 to about 1500. The anilox roll is either
partially submersed in the ink supply fountain, or comes into
contact With a metering roller. As a result, a thick layer of
typically viscous ink is deposited on the roll. A doctor blade
236 is used to scrape excess ink from the anilox roll, leaving
just the measured amount of ink in the cells. The roll then
rotates to contact the photoreceptor 210, Which receives the
ink from the cells for transfer to the receiving medium 216.
[0035] The use of an charging system in charging station
212, laser/ROS in imaging station 213 and an anilox roll can
increase the costs of the overall printing system. The laser/
ROS and the charger adds substantial cost to the UMC. In
addition, an anilox roll is much more expensive compared to
a rough roll. The term “rough” is used here to indicate that the
surface of the roll is not scored or processed to form cells on
the surface. Rather than carrying a speci?ed amount of ink as
US 2013/0092038 A1
With an anilox roll, the surface of a rough roll simply carries
an ink layer to be metered by a doctor blade.
[0036] The present disclosure thus relates to a digital mark
ing system that electrostatically prints ?exographic ink using
a loWer-cost printing unit. In this regard, ?exographic inks
differ from toner inks in certain respects. First, ?exo inks have
a higher pigment concentration compared to toner inks and
thus can be printed in a thinner layer compared to toner inks.
For example, the pigment concentration of a ?exo ink is
usually in the range of 15 to 35 Wt % of the ink, Whereas the
pigment concentration for a toner ink is usually in the range of
5 to 10 Wt % of the ink. Second, the binders used in ?exo inks
are an order of magnitude cheaper than those used in toner
inks. Finally, ?exo inks have a larger color gamut that
includes for example metallic inks and pearlescent ink. Flexo
inks can be used, for example, for decorative printing, Which
is di?icult to do With toner inks.
[0037] In the digital marking system of the present disclo
sure, the imaging drum includes a nano-enabled imaging
member With a layer of individually addressable pixels. The
pixels can be used to control the electrostatic latent image
maintained on the imaging member. The imaging member
creates the digital latent image in situ by selective activation
of pixels, as opposed to the conventional case Where a pho
toreceptor is uniformly charged and then imageWise dis
charged, thus reducing the number of components and steps
in the process. In addition, an anilox roll does not need to be
used to meter the ink being applied to the imaging drum. A
simple rough ink donor roll can be used instead. The ink
donor roll can be made of aluminum, steel, ceramic, or an
appropriate plastic material.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary digital ?exographic
printing system 300 of the present disclosure. The digital
?exographic printing system 300 includes a nano-enabled
imaging member 310, shoWn here as a drum, With reference
numeral 3 01 indicating the direction of rotation. The imaging
member 310 carries an electrostatic latent image on its sur
face 314 Which is generated by selective activation of pixels.
As described further herein, the imaging member may
include a substrate 352, a backplane 354 containing thin ?lm
transistor (TFT) arrays, a charge injection layer 356, and a
charge transport layer 358. The digital ?exographic printing
system 300 also includes a development subsystem 330 to
provide ink to the imaging member 310 and develop the
electrostatic latent image; this developed image is indicated
With reference numeral 340. An optional curing source 342
may be present to partially cure or tack the developed image
340; this curing source may be, for example, a LED light
source for UV curable inks. The developed image is then
transferred to a receiving medium 316, such as paper, at
transfer station 315. The transferred image is indicated here
With reference numeral 345. Any remaining ink on the imag
ing member 310 is then removed at cleaning station 317. A
?xing station 320 then ?xes the developed image to the
receiving substrate or medium. Depending on the ink used,
the developed image can be ?xed on the receiving medium
316, for example, by heat, pressure, and/or UV radiation. In
contrast to the system of FIG. 2, the digital ?exographic
printing system 300 does not include an imaging station or a
charging station, so the cost for these stations is not incurred.
[0039] The development subsystem 330 includes an ink
donor roll 332, With reference numeral 331 indicating the
direction of rotation. The ink donor roll 332 rotates in the
direction opposite that of the imaging member 310, i.e. if the
Apr. 18, 2013
nano-enabled imaging member 310 rotates counter-clock
Wise, then the ink donor roll 332 rotates clockWise. As Will be
discussed later, the donor roll 332 can be a simple rough
donor roll, and does not need to be an anilox roll. The ink
donor roll 332 pulls ink from an ink reservoir 334 that acts as
an ink supply, forming an ink layer 335 on the donor roll. A
doctor blade 336 is used to regulate the thickness of the ink
layer 335 on the ink donor roll 332. The ink donor roll 332
may in embodiments be negatively biased. It should also be
noted that the ink donor roll 332 directly applies ink from the
ink supply 334 to the imaging member 310, Without the need
for an intermediate fountain roll as in FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional vieW shoWing the com
ponents of the nano-enabled imaging member. The imaging
member 400 includes a substrate 410. A hole injecting layer
414 is disposed upon the substrate. The hole injecting layer
includes an array 420 of hole-inj ecting pixels 425 is disposed
upon the substrate 410. Each pixel 425 of the array is electri
cally isolated and is individually addressable. As seen here,
for example, insulating material 422 is present around each
pixel to isolate the pixel from its neighbors. An active matrix
backplane 412 containing TFT arrays is located betWeen the
substrate 410 and the hole injection layer 414. The active
matrix backplane includes an array 450 of thin ?lm transistors
455. Each thin ?lm transistor 455 can be coupled to a single
(i.e. one) pixel 425 in the array 420 in the hole injecting layer
414. A charge transport layer 416 is disposed over the hole
injecting layer 412. The charge transport layer transports
holes provided by the pixels 425 to the surface 417 of the
imaging member 400. The surface 417 of FIG. 4 corresponds
to the surface 314 of FIG. 3. An optional adhesion layer 418
can be located betWeen the substrate 410 and the hole injec
tion layer 414 if desired. An optional ink resistant protective
layer 419 may also be placed over the charge transport layer
416. In such embodiments, please note the surface 417 of the
imaging member is then provided by the protective layer, not
the charge transport layer.
[0041] As used herein, the terms “hole-inj ecting pixel” and
“array of hole-inj ecting pixels” are used interchangeably With
the terms “pixel” and “array of pixels”. The phrase “individu
ally addressable” as used herein means that each pixel of an
array of hole-injecting pixels can be identi?ed and manipu
lated independently from its neighboring or surrounding pix
el(s). For example, referring to FIG. 4, each pixel 325A,
425B, or 425C can be individually turned on or off indepen
dently from its neighboring or surrounding pixels. HoWever
in some embodiments, instead of addressing the pixels
425A-C individually, a group of pixels, e.g., tWo or more
pixels 425A-B can be selected and addressed together, i.e. the
group of pixels 425A-B can be turned on or off together
independently from the other pixels 425C or other groups of
pixels (not illustrated).
[0042] Each pixel 425 of the array 420 is made from a
pattemable material. In embodiments, each pixel comprises a
nano -carbon material or an organic conjugated polymer.
These materials can inject holes into the charge transport
layer under the in?uence of an electric ?eld, and those holes
can be used to generate an electrostatic latent image. Another
advantage of using the nano-carbon material and the organic
conjugated polymer as the hole injection material is that they
can be easily patterned by various fabrication techniques such
as, for example, photolithography, inkj et printing, screen
printing, transfer printing, and the like.
US 2013/0092038 A1
[0043] In certain embodiments, the surface resistivity of the
pixel containing the nano-carbon material and/ or organic
conjugated polymer can be from about 10 ohm/sq. to about
10,000 ohm/ sq. or from about 10 ohm/sq. to about 5,000
ohm/sq., or from about 100 ohm/sq. to about 2,500 ohm/sq.
[0044] As used herein, the phrase “nano-carbon material”
refers to a carbon-containing material having at least one
dimension on the order of nanometers, for example, less than
about 1000 nm. In embodiments, the nano-carbon material is
a carbon nanotube. This includes single-Wall carbon nano
tubes (SWNT), double-Wall carbon nanotubes (DWNT), and
multi-Wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT); and functionaliZed
carbon nanotubes. A multi-Wall carbon nanotube is com
posed of at least three cylindrical carbon nanotubes having
different diameters, Which are formed concentrically around
each other. The carbon nanotubes can have any suitable
length and diameter. The nano-carbon material could also be
graphene or a functionaliZed graphene. Graphene is a single
planar sheet of spZ-hybridiZed bonded carbon atoms that are
densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice and is exactly
one atom in thickness With each atom being a surface atom.
Also contemplated is a mixture of graphene and carbon nano
tubes.
[0045] The carbon nanotubes, as synthesiZed and after
puri?cation, can be a mixture of carbon nanotubes structur
ally With respect to number of Walls, diameter, length, chiral
ity, and/or defect rate. For example, chirality may dictate
Whether the carbon nanotube is metallic or semiconductive.
Carbon nanotubes are naturally a mixture of semiconductive
nanotubes and metallic nanotubes, Where the metallic nano
tubes are only 33% by Weight of the mixture. The carbon
nanotubes can have a diameter ranging from about 0.1 nm to
about 100 nm, or from about 0.5 nm to about 50 nm, or from
about 1.0 nm to about 10 nm. The carbon nanotubes can have
a length ranging from about 10 nm to about 5 mm, or from
about 200 nm to about 10 pm, or from about 500 nm to about
1000 nm. In certain embodiments, the concentration of car
bon nanotubes in the pixel can be from about 0.5 Weight % to
about 99 Weight %, or from about 50 Weight % to about 99
Weight %, or from about 90 Weight % to about 99 Weight % of
the pixel. The carbon nanotubes may be mixed With a binder
polymer to form the pixel. Suitable binder polymers are
knoWn to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0046] In various embodiments, the pixel can be coated
from an aqueous dispersion or an alcohol dispersion of car
bon nanotubes Wherein the carbon nanotubes can be stabi
liZed by a surfactant, DNA, or a polymeric material. In other
embodiments, the pixel can include a carbon nanotube com
posite, such as a carbon nanotube polymer composite or a
carbon nanotube ?lled resin.
[0047] When the pixel is made from an organic conjugated
polymer, any suitable charge injecting polymer may be used.
In various embodiments, the conjugated polymer is based on
ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) or its derivatives. Such con
jugated polymers can include, but are not limited to, poly(3,
4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT); alkyl substituted
EDOT; phenyl substituted EDOT; dimethyl substituted
polypropylenedioxythiophene, cyanobiphenyl substituted
EDOT; teradecyl substituted PEDOT; dibenZyl substituted
PEDOT; an ionic group substituted PEDOT such as sulfonate
substituted PEDOT; a dendron substituted PEDOT such as
dendroniZed poly(para-phenylene); and mixtures thereof. In
speci?c embodiments, the organic conjugated polymer is a
complex of PEDOT and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS). The
Apr. 18, 2013
molecular structure of the PEDOTzPSS complex can be
shoWn as the folloWing Structure (A):
Structure (A)
O O0 O0 O0 OO O
[0048] The PEDOTzPSS complex can be obtained through
the polymeriZation of EDOT in the presence of the template
polymer PSS. The conductivity of the PEDOTzPSS complex
can be controlled, e.g. enhanced, by adding compounds With
tWo or more polar groups, such as ethylene glycol, into an
aqueous solution of PEDOTzPSS. As discussed in the thesis
of Alexander M. Nardes, entitled “On the Conductivity of
PEDOTzPSS Thin Films,” 2007, Chapter 2, Eindhoven Uni
versity of Technology, Which is hereby incorporated by ref
erence in its entirety, such an additive can induce conforma
tional changes in the PEDOT chains of the PEDOTzPSS
complex. The conductivity of PEDOT can also be adjusted
during the oxidation step. Aqueous dispersions of PEDOT:
PSS are commercially available as BAYTRON P® from H. C.
Starck, Inc. (Boston, Mass.). PEDOTzPSS ?lms coated on
Mylar are commercially available in OrgaconTM ?lms (Agfa
Gevaert Group, Mortsel, Belgium). PEDOT may also be
obtained through chemical polymerization, for example, by
using electrochemical oxidation of electron-rich EDOT
based monomers from aqueous or non-aqueous medium.
Exemplary chemical polymeriZation of PEDOT can include
those disclosed by Li Niu et al., entitled “Electrochemically
Controlled Surface Morphology and Crystallinity in Poly(3,
4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films,” Synthetic Metals, 2001,
Vol. 122, 425-429; and by Mark Lefebvre et al., entitled
“Chemical Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical
Studies of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Poly(styrene
4-sulfonate) Composites,” Chemistry of Materials, 1999, Vol.
11, 262-268, Which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety. As also discussed in the above references, the
electrochemical synthesis of PEDOT can use a small amount
of monomer, and a short polymeriZation time, and can yield
electrode-supported and/ or freestanding ?lms.
[0049] The array of pixels 425 can be formed by ?rst depos
iting the patternable material as a layer upon the substrate
410. Any suitable method can be used to form this layer, for
example by using dip coating, spray coating, spin coating,
Web coating, draW doWn coating, ?oW coating, and/or extru
sion die coating. The pattemable material can then be pat
terned or otherWise treated to form an array of pixels 425.
Suitable nano-fabrication techniques that can be used to cre
ate the array of pixels 425 include photolithographic etching,
nano-imprinting, inkjet printing, and/ or screen printing. As a
result, each pixel 425 of the array 420 can have at least one
dimension (length or Width) ranging from about 100 nm to
about 500 pm, or from about 1 pm to about 250 um, or from
US 2013/0092038 A1 Apr. 18, 2013

about 5 pm to about 150 um. In some embodiments, the pixels

have dimensions in the range of tens of microns, ie from Structure (D)
about 10 pm to about 100 pm.
[0050] The charge transport layer 416 is con?gured to
transport holes provided by the one or more pixels 425 to the
surface 417 opposite the array of pixels 425. The charge
transport layer 414 can include materials capable of trans
porting either holes or electrons through the charge transport
layer to selectively dissipate a surface charge. In certain
embodiments, the charge transport layer 416 comprises a
charge-transporting small molecule dissolved or molecularly
dispersed in an electrically inert binder polymer. In embodi
ments, the charge-transporting small molecule can be dis
solved in the electrically inert polymer to form a homoge
neous phase With the polymer.
[0051] Any suitable charge transport molecule can be
employed in the charge transport layer 416. Exemplary
charge-transporting small molecules include pyraZolines
such as l-phenyl-3-(4'-diethylaminostyryl)-5-(4"-diethy
lamino phenyl)pyraZoline; diamines such as N,N'-diphenyl Wherein X, Y and Z are independently alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, a
halogen, or mixtures thereof.
N,N'-bis(3 -methylphenyl)-(l , l '-biphenyl)-4.4'-diamine
[0052] The term “alkyl” refers to a radical composed
(TPD): other arylamines like triphenylamine or N,N,N',
entirely of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms Which is fully
N'-tetra-p -tolyl- l , l'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine (TM-TPD); saturated and of the formula iCnHzml. The alkyl radical
hydraZones such as N-phenyl-N-methyl-3-(9-ethyl)carbaZyl may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
hydraZone and 4-diethylaminobenZaldehyde-1,2-diphenyl [0053] The term “alkoxy” refers to an alkyl radical Which is
hydraZone; oxadiaZoles such as 2,5-bis(4-N,N'-diethylami attached to an oxygen atom, i.e. *O%nH2n+1.
nophenyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole; stilbenes; and the like. Exem [0054] The term “aryl” refers to an aromatic radical com
plary arylamines can have the following structures (B) or (C): posed entirely of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms. When
aryl is described in connection With a numerical range of
carbon atoms, it should not be construed as including substi
tuted aromatic radicals. For example, the phrase “aryl con
taining from 6 to 10 carbon atoms” should be construed as
referring to a phenyl group (6 carbon atoms) or a naphthyl
Structure (B)
group (10 carbon atoms) only, and should not be construed as
including a methylphenyl group (7 carbon atoms).

@ZQ
[0055] Generally, the alkyl and alkoxy groups each inde
pendently contain from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, including from
1 to about 18 carbon atoms. Similarly, the aryl groups inde
pendently contain from 6 to 36 carbon atoms. Substituted
groups are also contemplated, Wherein at least one hydrogen
X atom on the named radical is substituted With another func

X
@Q
Q Q
Structure (C)

X
tional group, such as halogen, 4CN, iNOZ, 4COOH, and
iSO3H. An exemplary substituted alkyl group is a perha
loalkyl group, Wherein one or more hydrogen atoms in an
alkyl group are replaced With halogen atoms, such as ?uorine,
chlorine, iodine, and bromine. Besides the aforementioned
functional groups, an aryl group may also be substituted With
alkyl or alkoxy. Exemplary substituted aryl groups include
methylphenyl and methoxyphenyl.
[0056] Speci?c arylamines that can be used in the charge
transport layer 316 include N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(alky

X Q (5
ox
Wherein each X is independently a suitable hydrocarbon like
alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and derivatives thereof; a halogen, or
mixtures thereof, and especially those substituents selected
from the group consisting of Cl and CH3. Other suitable
charge transport molecules are of Structures (D) or (E):
lphenyl)- l , l'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine Wherein alkyl contains 1
to 18 carbon atoms; N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(chlorophenyl)
l,l'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine; N,N'-bis(4-butylphenyl)-N,N'
di-p-tolyl-[p-terphenyl]-4,4"-diamine; N,N'-bis(4-butylphe
nyl)-N,N'-di-m-tolyl-[p-terphenyl]-4,4"-diamine; N,N'-bis
(4-butylphenyl)-N,N'-di-o-tolyl-[p-terphenyl]-4,4"-diamine;
N,N'-bis(4-butylphenyl)-N,N'-bis-(4-isopropylphenyl)-[p
terphenyl]-4,4"diamine; N,N'-bis(4-butylphenyl)-N,N'-bis
(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-(p-terphenyl]-4,4"diamine; N,N'
bis(4-butylphenyl)-N,N'.bis-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-[p
US 2013/0092038 A1
terphenyl]-4,4'-diamine; N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3
chlorophenyl)-[p-terphenyl]-4,4"-diamine; and the like.
[0057] Any suitable electrically inert binder polymer can
be employed in the charge transport layer 416. Typical elec
trically inert binder polymers used in conjunction With the
charge transport molecule can include polycarbonates, pol
yarylates, polystyrenes, acrylate polymers, vinyl polymers,
cellulose polymers, polyesters, polysiloxanes, polyimides,
polyurethanes, polycycloole?ns, polysulfones, epoxies, and
random or alternating copolymers thereof.
[0058] In embodiments, the charge transport layer may
comprise from about 25 Weight percent to about 60 Weight
percent of the charge transport molecule and from about 40
Weight percent to about 75 Weight percent by Weight of the
electrically inert polymer, both by total Weight of the charge
transport layer. In speci?c embodiments, the charge transport
layer comprises from about 40 Weight percent to about 50
Weight percent of the charge transport molecule and from
about 50 Weight percent to about 60 Weight percent of the
electrically inert polymer.
[0059] Alternatively, the charge transport layer can be
formed from a charge transport polymer. Any suitable poly
meric charge transport polymer can be used, such as poly(N
vinylcarbaZole); poly(vinylpyrene); poly(vinyltetraphene);
poly(vinyltetracene), and/or poly(vinylperylene).
[0060] Optionally, the charge transport layer can include
materials to improve lateral charge migration (LCM) resis
tance such as hindered phenolic antioxidants like, for
example, tetrakis methylene(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy
hydrocinnamate)methane (IRGANOX® 1010, available
from Ciba Spccialty Chcmical, TarrytoWn, N.Y.), butylatcd
hydroxytoluene (BHT), and other hindered phenolic antioxi
dants including SUMILIZERTM BHT-R, MOP-S, BBM-S,
WX-R, NW, BP-76, BP-101, GA-80, GM, and GS (available
from Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc., NeW York, NY),
IRGANOX® 1035,1076,1098,1135,1141,1222, 1330,
1425WL, 1520L, 245, 259, 3114,3790, 5057, and 565 (avail
able from Ciba Specialties Chemicals, Tarrytown, NY), and
ADEKA STABTM AO-20, AO-30, AO-40, AO-50, AO-60,
AO-70, AO-80, and AO-330 (available from Asahi Oenka
Co., Ltd.); hindered amine antioxidants such as SANOLTM
LS-2626, LS-765, LS-770, and LS; 744 (available from
SANKYO CO., Ltd.), TINUVIN® 144 and 622LD (available
from Ciba Specialties Chemicals, Tarrytown, NY).
MARKTM LA57, LA67. LA62, LA68, and LA63 (available
from Am?ne Chemical Corporation, Upper Saddle River,
N.J.), and SUMILIZER® TPS (available from Sumitomo
Chemical America, Inc., NeW York, NY); thioether antioxi
dants such as SUMILIZER® TP-D (available from Sumi
tomo Chemical America, Inc., NeW York, NY); phosphite
antioxidants such as MARKTM 21 12, PEP-B, PEP-24G, PEP
36, 329K, and HP-10 (available from Am?ne Chemical Cor
poration, Upper Saddle River, N.J.); other molecules such as
bis(4-diethylamino-2-methylphenyl) phenylmethane (BDE
TPM), bis-[2-methyl-4-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl-ami
nophenyl)]-phenylmethane (DHTPM), and the like. The
charge transport layer can contain antioxidant in an amount
ranging from about 0 to about 20 Weight %, from about 1 to
about 10 Weight %, or from about 3 to about 8 Weight % based
on the total charge transport layer.
[0061] The charge transport layer may be considered an
insulator to the extent that the electrostatic charge placed on
the charge transport layer is not conducted such that forma
tion and retention of an electrostatic latent image thereon can
Apr. 18, 2013
be prevented. On the other hand, the charge transport layer
can be considered electrically “active” in that it alloWs the
injection of holes from the hole injecting layer to be trans
ported through the charge transport layer itself to enable
selective discharge of a negative surface charge on the imag
ing member surface 417.
[0062] Any suitable and conventional techniques can be
utiliZed to form the charge transport layer. A single coating
step or multiple coating steps can be used. Application tech
niques can include spraying, dip coating, roll coating, Wire
Wound rod coating, ink jet coating, ring coating, gravure,
drum coating, and the like. Drying of the deposited coating
can be effected by any suitable conventional technique such
as oven drying, infra red radiation drying, air drying and the
like. After drying, the charge transport layer can have a thick
ness in the range of about 1 pm to about 50 um, about 5 pm to
about 45 pm, or about 15 um to about 40 pm, but may be as
thick as 100 micrometers.
[0063] The substrate provides support for all layers of the
imaging member. Its thickness depends on numerous factors,
including mechanical strength, ?exibility, and economical
considerations, and may be for example from about 50
micrometers to about 150 micrometers thick, provided there
are no adverse effects on the ?nal imaging member. The
substrate is desirably not soluble in any of the solvents used to
form the other layers of the imaging member, is optically
transparent, and is desirably thermally stable up to a high
temperature of about 1500 C. Suitable materials that can be
used for the substrate 410 include, but are not limited to,
mylar, polyimide (PI), ?exible stainless steel, poly(ethylene
napthalate) (PEN), and ?exible glass.
[0064] The optional adhesion layer 418 can be made from,
for example, polyester resins like polyarylatepolyvinylbu
tyrals, such as U-100 available from Unitika Ltd., Osaka, J P;
VITEL PE-100, VITEL PE-200, VITEL PE-200D, and VI
TEL PE-222, all available from Bostik, WauWatosa, Wis.;
MOR'ESTERTM 49000-P polyester available from Rohm
Hass, Philadelphia, Pa.; polyvinyl butyral; and the like.
[0065] The protective overcoat layer 419 may be use to
protect the surface of the charge transport layer as Well as
improve the ease of cleaning the imaging member of ink.
Such overcoat layers are knoWn in the art.
[0066] Any suitable ?exo ink can be used including, such
as, for example, solvent based ?exo ink, UV ?exo ink, or
Water based ?exo ink. Exemplary ?exo ink can include, but
are not limited to, UVivid 820 Series UV Flexo ink, UVivid
850 Series UV Flexo ink, and UV1V1d 800 Series UV Flexo
ink, all manufactured by FUJIFILM North America Corpo
ration, Kansas City, Kans.; Water based ?exo inks from BCM
inks USA, ?exo packaging ink from Dun Chemicals, NWUV
16-846 and NWUV-16-848/849 UV ?exo inks, and NWS2
10-931 Water based ?exo ink, manufactured by Atlantic Print
ing Ink, Ltd., Tampa, Fla.
[0067] Referring back to FIG. 3, the ?exographic printing
system 300 includes a development subsystem 330 located
relative to the nano-enabled imaging member 310, such that
the development subsystem 330 and the nano-enabled imag
ing member 310 form a development nip 305. The electro
static latent image on the surface 314 of the imaging member
can be developed here.
[0068] In the digital ?exographic printing system 300, the
pixels of the nano-enabled imaging member 310 that are
charged by hole injection attract ink in an electrophoretic or
electrohydrodynamic like process, thus forming the devel
US 2013/0092038 A1
oped latent image that can be transferred to a substrate. The
function of the development subsystem 330 is to deliver ink to
the electrostatic latent image on the surface 314 of the nano
enabled imaging member 310. The developing material
selectively adheres to the charged areas to form a developed
image 340 on the nano-enabled imaging member 310. The
electrostatic latent image is developed at the development nip
305 using any suitable developing material to form a devel
oped image 340. Exemplary developing materials can
include, but are not limited to, liquid toner, hydrocarbon
based liquid ink, and/ or ?exographic/offset ink. The term
“ink” may be used herein to refer to all developing materials.
Development occurs due to an electrostatic image charge
created on the ink by the charged areas of the electrostatic
latent image surface on the nano-enabled imaging member
310.
[0069] Referring noW to FIG. 2, the anilox roll 232 provides
a measured amount of ink to the imaging member 210. Again,
an anilox roll has an outer surface comprising a large number
of cells that deliver a metered amount of ink. The selective
charging of the imaging member controls the transfer of ink
from the anilox roll to the imaging member. HoWever, anilox
rolls increase the cost of the system.
[0070] In conventional ?exography that used a raised relief
plate, the use of an anilox roll Was needed to ensure that only
raised portions of the relief plate Were inked and the
depressed portions of the relief plate Were not inked. The
transfer of ink from the anilox roll to the imaging member is
due to a combination of pressure, ink viscosity, capillary
forces, and nip contact speed. The cells of the anilox roll Were
used to optimiZe ink leveling and deliver a uniform amount of
ink per unit area. HoWever, With the use of a nano-enabled
imaging member, that function is not necessary. The amount
and location of ink transferred to the imaging member can
noW be controlled by the area of the pixel on the imaging
member and the electrical ?eld used. Put another Way, the
pixels noW meter the amount of ink transferred, similar to the
function of the cells in the anilox roll, so an anilox roll is not
needed. Thus, referring noW to FIG. 3, a simple rough donor
roll 332 can be used instead that simply supplies ink to the
imaging member, and there is no concern about inking an area
that is not supposed to be inked.
[0071] Referring to the donor roll, the term “rough” refers
to the fact that the surface of the donor roll is not patterned.
The rough ink donor roll 332 may comprise a metal, such as
aluminum, or be made from a ceramic. The ink donor roll 332
is not an anilox roll. Please note that the development nip 305
includes a gap 307 betWeen the donor roll 332 and the imag
ing member surface 314. This gap typically has a distance of
from about 1 pm to about 50 um Wide. The surface roughness
of the donor roll 332 is less than this gap. In embodiments, the
ink donor roll 332 may have a surface roughness of from
about 0.1 pm to about 50 um. In more speci?c embodiments,
the ink donor roll 332 may have a surface roughness of from
0.25 pm to 2 um.
[0072] The ink is electrophoretically attracted to the
charged areas of the nano-enabled imaging member 310, but
not to the the discharged areas, thereby developing the latent
image.
[0073] In the digital ?exographic printing system of the
present disclosure, the sign and direction of the electric ?eld
is generally not relevant here, but can be either direct current
(DC) or alternating current (AC), and may have a high fre
quency of greater than 1 kHZ. The electric ?eld generated by
Apr. 18, 2013
the imaging member relative to the grounded donor roll 332
may have a strength in the range of 10 V/um to 100 V/um.
[0074] Referring back to FIG. 3, the digital ?exographic
printing system 300 can also include a transfer subsystem 315
for transferring the developed image onto a receiving medium
3 16, such as paper. During transferring, the receiving medium
316 can come in substantially close contact With the devel
oped image 340 on the surface 314 of the nano-enabled imag
ing member 310.
[0075] For monochrome printers, the nano-enabled imag
ing member 310 can transfer the developed image 340
directly to the receiving medium 316. For color printers,
generally a developed image is formed for each color (e.g.
CMYK) and built up an image directly to the paper or to an
intermediate transfer member (not shoWn). Once all of the
colors are developed, the ?nal developed image made up of all
the colors is transferred to the receiving medium. In some
embodiments, it is contemplated that the digital ?exo graphic
printing system 300 can include four nano-enabled imaging
members, one for each color. For example, the color printer
can use a different sequence of events Where each colored
developed image is transferred to the receiving medium in
sequence.
[0076] The digital ?exographic printing system 300 can
also include a ?xing subsystem 320 to ?x the developed
image onto the receiving medium. In the ?xing process, the
ink can be permanently ?xed to the substrate either by heat,
pressure, UV cure, or some combination thereof. In some
embodiments, the digital ?exographic printing system 300
can use a trans?x system that transfers and ?xes the developed
image onto the receiving medium 316 in one step instead of a
separate transfer subsystem and ?xing subsystem.
[0077] The digital ?exographic printing system 300 gener
ally further includes a cleaning subsystem 317. The transfer
of ink from the nano -enabled imaging member to the receiv
ing medium may not be 100% e?icient in some cases. This is
because small ink drops can adhere strongly to the nanoen
abled imaging member and resist transfer. This residual ink
must be removed from the nano-enabled imaging member
before the next print cycle, or they can affect the printing
quality of the next image. The cleaning subsystem may
include a compliant cleaning blade that rubs against the nano
enabled imaging member and scrapes off any remaining ink.
The cleaning sub system may include a rotating brush cleaner,
Which can be more ef?cient at removing ink and is less abra
sive to the surface of the nano-enabled imaging member.
[0078] The folloWing examples are for purposes of further
illustrating the present disclosure. The examples are merely
illustrative and are not intended to limit devices made in
accordance With the disclosure to the materials, conditions, or
process parameters set forth therein.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Printing Test Using a Patterned Bi-Layer Imaging
Member
[0079] A PEDOT layer Was patterned on a Mylar substrate
by inkjet printing using a Dimatix inkjet printer model
DMP2800 (FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.).
The PEDOT layer served as a hole injecting layer. A charge
transport layer (CTL) of about 18 pm thick containing N,N'
diphenyl-N,N-bis(3 -methyl phenyl)- l , l '-biphenyl-4,4'-di
US 2013/0092038 A1
amine (TPD) and PCZ200 (a polycarbonate) in a Weight ratio
of 3:1 Was coated over the patterned PEDOT layer to form a
patterned PEDOT bi-layer imaging member. The imaging
member Was then pasted on a photoreceptor drum and Was
grounded.
[0080] A print test Was then conducted using this bi-layer
imaging member. The results are seen in FIG. 5. The print test
results demonstrated that PEDOT Was easily patterned onto a
substrate and that good prints could be obtained using
PEDOT for the hole injecting layer. These patterned PEDOT
pixels, When coupled to a TFT matrix, Will behave as a digital
printing device.
[0081] In a second device, a carbon nanotube layer Was
used instead of the PEDOT layer. Print test results demon
strated that carbon nanotubes could be easily patterned onto a
substrate and that good prints could be obtained.
Example 2
Direct Digital Printing
[0082] A 15 cm><l5 cm piece of a PEDOT/TPD bi-layer
imaging member (as described in Example 1) Was pasted on
an organic photoconductor (OPC) drum. The surface resis
tivity of the PEDOT layer Was about 350 Q/sq. The bilayer
member Was attached on the OPC drum by kapton tape. The
OPC drum Was used to provide a support for the bilayer
member and to provide a patch for the bilayer member to be
electrically grounded. The bilayer member on the OPC drum
Was electrically grounded to the aluminum groundplane of
the OPC drum by silver paste. Printing experiments Were
performed by mounting this OPC drum onto a bench DC8000
development ?xture. The OPC drum Was alloWed to rotate at
a speed of about 352 mm/ s under a negatively biased, toned
semiconducting magnetic brush (SCMB). Ultra-loW melt EA
Cyan toner Was used for the printing experiment.
[0083] Experimental results (not illustrated) shoW that after
passing through the development nip, toner development Was
obtained on the bilayer member. Toner image Was formed on
the PEDOT nano-enabled imaging member by just passing
the development nip.
[0084] FIG. 6 is a graph shoWing the development mass per
unit area obtained at a given development bias (Vdev) under
tWo different printing conditions. Curve 620 Was obtained
under the condition described above. Curve 610 Was obtained
under a slightly different condition Where a scorotron charger
Was used to discharge the nanoimaging member prior to the
development nip.
[0085] The similarity in development in both con?gura
tions of FIG. 6 indicates that the magnetic brush served a dual
role in the direct printing mode. If the magnetic brush did not
play a dual role, then there Would have been no hole-induced
injection reaction, resulting in no development. As the bilayer
?rst contacted the magnetic brush, the bias on the magnetic
brush induced a hole injection reaction to create the electro
static latent image on the CTL surface of the bilayer. This Was
folloWed by toner development before the bilayer member
exited the development nip. This tWo step process Was accom
plished Within the development nip, resulting in direct toner
printing.
[0086] The observed direct printing processes can simplify
the generation of electrostatic images as compared to xerog
raphy and can be extended to liquid inks and ?exo inks
depending on the imaging material. Furthermore, the above
Apr. 18, 2013
described direct printing process can be digitiZed by coupling
the printing process With a TFT backplane, for example.
Example 3
Concept Printing With Flexo Ink
[0087] As proof of concept, a nano-enabled imaging mem
ber 700 Was used in a system illustrated in FIG. 7. An imaging
drum 710 Was covered With a patterned bilayer device 714
having a PEDOT:PSS layer and a CTL. The bilayer device
Was grounded. The development subsystem 730 used an
anilox roll 732 that Was metered by a doctor blade 736. Cyan
?exographic ink 734 Was used. A Wire scorotron 702 Was used
to provide an electric ?eld on the bilayer device.
[0088] FIG. 8 shoWs the printing result. Speci?cally, the
?exographic ink printed selectively.
[0089] Next, to shoW that an electric ?eld Was required, the
scorotron Was partially covered With an insulating polyimide
tape. FIG. 9 shoWs the printing result. The ?exo ink only
printed in the area Where the bilayer device Was exposed to the
scorotron charger, further proving the concept that an electric
?eld is needed for selectively printing the ?exo ink With a
nano -enabled imaging member.
[0090] It Will be appreciated that variants of the above
disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives
thereof, may be combined into many other different systems
or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unantici
pated alternatives, modi?cations, variations or improvements
therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art
Which are also intended to be encompassed by the folloWing
claims.
1. A ?exographic printing system comprising:
a nano-enabled imaging member comprising:
an array of hole-inj ecting pixels, each pixel being elec
trically isolated and individually addressable; and
a charge transport layer disposed over the array of hole
injecting pixels;
a development subsystem comprising:
a rough ink donor roll; and
an ink supply.
2. The ?exo graphic printing system of claim 1, Wherein the
nano-enabled imaging member further comprises an array of
thin ?lm transistors betWeen a substrate and the array of
hole-injecting pixels, Wherein each thin ?lm transistor is con
nected to one pixel of the array of hole-injecting pixels.
3. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
each pixel comprises a nano-carbon material.
4. The ?exo graphic printing system of claim 3, Wherein the
nano-carbon material comprises a single-Wall carbon nano
tube, a double-Wall carbon nanotube, a multi-Wall carbon
nanotube, graphene, or a mixture of carbon nanotubes and
graphene.
5. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
each pixel comprises a conjugated polymer.
6. The ?exo graphic printing system of claim 5, Wherein the
conjugated polymer is PEDOT:PSS.
7. The ?exo graphic printing system of claim 5, Wherein the
conjugated polymer is selected from the group consisting of
poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), alkyl substi
tuted ethylenedioxythiophene, phenyl substituted ethylene
dioxythiophene, dimethyl substituted polypropylenediox
ythiophene, cyanobiphenyl substituted 3,4
ethylenedioxythiopene, teradecyl substituted PEDOT,
US 2013/0092038 A1
dibenZyl substituted PEDOT, an ionic group substituted
PEDOT, a dendron substituted PEDOT, and mixtures thereof.
8. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein the
charge transport layer comprises a charge transport molecule
dispersed in a binder polymer.
9. The ?exographic printing system of claim 8, Wherein the
charge transport molecule is a pyraZoline, diamine, ary
lamine, hydraZone, oxadiaZole, or stilbene.
10. The ?exographic printing system of claim 8, Wherein
the binder polymer is a polycarbonate, polyarylate, polysty
rene, acrylate polymer, vinyl polymer, cellulose polymer,
polyester, polysiloxane, polyimide, polyurethane, polycy
cloole?n, polysulfone, or epoxy.
11. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
the charge transport layer comprises N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis
(3 -methylphenyl)-(l , l '-biphenyl)-4 .4'-diamine.
12. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
the charge transport layer is overcoated With an ink resistant
protective layer.
13. The ?exographic printing system of claim 12, Wherein
the thickness of the protective layer is from about 0.5 um to
about 5 um.
14. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
the thickness of the charge transport layer is from about 1 pm
to about 30 um.
15. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
the rough ink donor roll has a surface roughness of from about
0.1 pm to about 50 um.
Apr. 18, 2013
16. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein a
gap betWeen the nano -enabled imaging member and the
rough ink donor roll has a distance of from about 1 pm to 50
um.
17. The ?exographic printing system of claim 1, Wherein
the rough ink donor roll is made of aluminum, steel, ceramic,
or a plastic material.
18. A ?exographic printing system comprising:
a nano-enabled imaging member comprising:
a substrate;
an array of hole-inj ecting pixels, each pixel being elec
trically isolated and individually addressable, and
each pixel being formed from a nano-carbon material
or a conjugated polymer; and
a charge transport layer disposed over the array of hole
injecting pixels; and
a development subsystem comprising:
a rough ink donor roll; and
an ink supply.
19. The ?exographic printing system of claim 18, Wherein
the ink rough donor roll has a surface roughness of from about
0.1 pm to about 50 um.
20. The ?exographic printing system of claim 18, Wherein
a gap betWeen the nano-enabled imaging member and the ink
rough donor roll is about 1 pm to 50 um Wide.